Method and apparatus for distribution of granular material in a railway hopper car
AssigneePullman Incorporated
InventorJohn D. Pavolka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for evenly distributing granular material such as plastic pellets into a railway hopper car to reduce the valley angle, eliminate void spaces, and increase the volume of material in each hopper. A cone-shaped deflector is placed in line with each hatch opening at a point below the roof line. The deflector directs material horizontally away from the hatch opening to reduce and virtually eliminate the valley angle for most granular materials. The cone is hung from support struts which may be suspended from an angular mounting ring which is mounted atop the hatch coaming.
Claims4
A portable distribution device for evenly spreading granular material conveyed in a loading hose providing a moving airstream into a covered hopper car having a hatch opening in a roof and having upstanding coaming associated therewith, the improvement comprising:
- a deflector cone located below the roof and in alignment with said hatch opening;
- strut means connected with and extending upwardly from the deflector cone;
- strut mounting means removably positioned on said coaming, said strut means connected with said strut mounting means to support the deflector cone within said hopper car;
- a shield member extending across the hatch opening to prevent material from bouncing from the deflector cone and having opening means adapted to surround the loading hose, said shield member being connected to said loading hose and being positionable therewith, and
- said deflector cone having a diameter smaller than said hatch opening thereby facilitating insertion and removal of said distribution device.
A portable distribution device for evenly spreading granular material in a loading hose into a covered hopper car having a hatch opening in a roof and having upstanding coaming associated therewith, the improvement comprising:
- a deflector cone located below the roof and in alignment with said hatch opening, said deflector cone having a diameter smaller than said hatch opening to facilitate insertion and removal of the distribution device,
- strut means connected with an extending upwardly from the deflector cone
- support shield means removably positioned on said coaming, said strut means connected with said support shield means to support the deflector cone within said hopper,
- said support shield means extending across the hatch opening to prevent material from bouncing from the deflector cone and having opening means adapted to surround said loading hose, and
- said support shield being connected to said loading hose, said distribution device thereby being positionable with said loading hose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.